Mr Rau said other changes under the legislation would remove a 99-year limit on interment rights in public cemeteries, allowing perpetual interment rights.

Rodney Van Den Brink works as a funeral director in Adelaide specialising in natural burials and said it had been difficult until now without clear legal parameters.

"I would probably say maybe 5 per cent of all our clients have approached us. It might not sound a lot, but we haven't made this essentially an open book as a result of some of the legislation that makes certain aspects of the ceremony prohibitive," he said.

President of the Australasian Cemeteries and Crematoria Association Armen Mikaelian said natural burials were in growing demand.

"Natural burials have probably gathered some pace, certainly over the last five years or so. Although there are a number of cemeteries around Australia that do provide that option, as far as I know, the take-up rate hasn't been that high," he said.

"I would say that about 2 per cent of burials, if that, choose to do natural burial."